Similarities and Differences between Verbal and Visual Metaphor Processing: an EEG Study

Abstract

AbstractThis EEG study explores similarities and differences between verbal and visual metaphor comprehension processes. The results of the study show that interpreting either a verbal stimulus or a visual stimulus metaphorically activates similar brain areas, but there are significant differences between the two in terms of neural connectivity and resource allocation patterns. A greater intra-hemispheric connectivity was observed during verbal metaphor comprehension as compared to greater inter-hemispheric connectivity during visual metaphor comprehension. Results of our novel method, called µ index, suggested a distinct information processing mechanism for metaphor in verbal and visual modalities. We found that metaphorical interpretations, especially highly creative interpretations, of visual stimuli required allocation of greater resources when compared to highly creative interpretations of verbal stimuli. Overall, these results provide a deeper insight into the multimodal nature of metaphor processing.